Tom Duffy

(Class of 1963)

 Tom Duffy was another in a long line of multi-sport athletes in the history of Wheeling Central Catholic High School. He played four years in the football program, three seasons on the track team and two years as a basketball player. The three-year starter in football enjoyed a banner season for Coach George Strager’s Maroon Knights in 1962. He rushed for over 1,000 yards on a 9-1-1 record team that tied Linsly and lost a 13-7 decision to Charleston Catholic in the West Virginia Catholic state championship game played in Parkersburg. Duffy earned first-team all-WV Catholic honors along with leading his squad to an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference title. Duffy’s post-season laurels included first-team selections on the all-Big Valley, all-OVAC and all-City squads. Central Catholic also earned the City championship in 1962. He was presented the Lou Mack Award, given annually in memory of the Maroon Knights’ football standout who died after sustaining an on-the-field injury during Central’s game against city rival Wheeling High School in 1956.

  Co-captain of the 1962 Maroon Knights’ squad, Duffy played in the North-South All-Star Game and was a team captain for the North squad. In track, Duffy competed in the sprint events, a relay team and ran the hurdles.

 Duffy went on to play football for two years at West Liberty State College (now University) before getting into officiating as a member of the OVAC Board of Approved Football Officials. He also served for many years as a grade school coach at St, Michael’s, St. Alphonsus and the Cathedral. While at St. Michael’s two of his teams won Greater City League titles. He was named the coach of the year on one occasion.

 Duffy also enjoyed a successful business career as owner and president of the Operator Millennium Safety Training Company. He was certified as an Ohio-West Virginia Mining Training Assistant  Retired from CONSOL Energy as a safety supervisor in Management Development, he was a certified U.S. Department Mine Safety and Health National Instructor in Mine Rescue Fires and Explosives, Fire Fighting, Mine Foreman Program and Mine Gases.